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Attorney General Olens Announces Over $550K Collected from Prosecution of Illegal Tobacco Ring

PRESS ADVISORY

Attorney General Olens Announces Over $550K Collected from Prosecution of Illegal Tobacco Ring

December 10, 2012

Attorney General Sam Olens announced that his office has recouped more $550,897.89 in tax revenue for the State of Georgia from defendants involved in an extensive tobacco trafficking ring, and more is expected to be recovered. So far, 42 of the 50 defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

A three year investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Atlanta Field Division uncovered the illegal tobacco trafficking ring, which spanned several counties. The defendants were arrested on and shortly after October 19, 2011, for violations of state law involving the illegal possession, sale and distribution of contraband cigarettes. The defendants avoided the payment of state excise taxes on cigarettes by knowingly purchasing untaxed cigarettes which had counterfeit excise tax stamps.

“Through swift and aggressive prosecution of these defendants, we have recovered over $550,000.00 in tobacco tax revenue for the State of Georgia,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “In addition to paying their debts to the State, these criminals have been put out of business. I commend Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier for his excellent work and appreciate the assistance of our federal and state partners in this effort.”

“Counterfeiting cigarettes not only cheats Georgia’s taxpayers, but it also puts unregulated cigarettes on the market,” said Revenue Commissioner Doug MacGinnitie. “The Alcohol and Tobacco agents from the Department of Revenue worked hard alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, local law enforcement, and our Attorney General to bring these offenders to justice.”

“Tobacco smugglers are thieves, plain and simple. The money stolen through diversion of tax dollars could be used to fund a multitude of other things or help provide jobs for people who live in states that don’t get their proper tax revenue on tobacco products,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Scott Sweetow. Sweetow further added, “ATF is the primary, federal law enforcement agency leading tobacco diversion cases, and this investigation further strengthens the collaboration with our federal, state, local and regulatory counterparts.”

Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The arrests and prosecution were part of a joint federal and state law enforcement effort between the ATF Atlanta Field Division, Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Department of Revenue, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, the Lawrenceville Police Department and the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department.